July 2026 Virginia Forest Landowner e-Update

Summer 2026, V. 40 No. 3

Good morning, Forest Update Subscribers,

As you may notice, the newsletter is back to its original format this month. We’re working with Virginia Tech on a new format and hope to have it ready by August. In the meantime, thank you for your patience!

So far this summer, like most Virginians, we’ve spent quite a bit of time waiting for it to rain — just enough to keep the gardens going, but not enough to keep the rivers running high. We’ve also experienced our first real outbreak of the spotted lanternfly, with nymphs feeding on hops and black walnut.

As part of our ongoing recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Virginia Forest Landowner Update newsletter, we’ve posted the Forestry Extension Notes from the summer of 1986, featuring an article on the gypsy moth — now known as the spongy moth. We now have effective tools to slow its spread, and the arrival of the emerald ash borer has since killed most of Virginia’s ash trees, so today we commonly recommend managing for oak instead.

It’s a reminder that forest management is an ongoing process, shaped by changing conditions, new threats, and emerging knowledge. Adjusting management practices based on current conditions and knowledge is called active forest management. The Summer 2026 Edition of the Virginia Forest Landowner Update newsletter is now available and this edition features two articles on active forest management.

Have a great summer, and hope to see you out in the woods!
— Jennifer

Active Forest Management: What is it and What is it Good for?

by Dean Cumbia, Virginia Department of Forestry

Private individuals and entities own an overwhelming 80 percent of Virginia’s nearly 16 million acres of forest land. Estimated at 400,000 strong, they (you) bear the responsibility of managing and stewarding these lands. Because of this dedication and effort, Virginia’s private forests yield benefits for the owners, and in turn for all Virginians. In order to maximize these benefits for all, forests must be actively managed.

Four Virginia Invasive Plant Bills Have Been Signed into Law!

by Hallie Harriman, Virginia Tech

The Commonwealth has passed a sweeping package of legislation to address invasive plants. The 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly ran from January 14 to March 14, during which four significant invasive plant bills were approved by the Assembly and signed by the Governor.

Midstory Management: Active Forest Management in Action

by Joe Rossetti, Virginia Department of Forestry

Active management is important for hardwood forests to be healthy, productive, and wildlife friendly. Midstory management is a helpful practice for landowners with sawtimber-sized oak trees who want oak trees to be part of the next forest too. For this to happen, new oak trees must be ready in the understory to replace the overstory oaks that decline due to old age, insects, disease, weather, or are harvested.

Upcoming Events

We have a full lineup of events for you this year! Check out our Events Calendar for a complete listing.

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest

• July 24 — Wood Turtles
• August 28 — Poplar Plywood Mill Tour

New videos premier at 12:15 on YouTube. Watch 175+ videos on our YouTube Channel.

Landowner Retreats

• Beyond the Basics Woodland Owner Retreat: Managing Your Forest for Timber Income — August 7–8, Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox — Agenda • Register by mail • Register online
• Southeast Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat — September 11–12, New Kent Conference Center, Providence Forge — Agenda • Register by mail • Register online

Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Events

• July 24 & 25 — John Barton Payne Community Hall, Warrenton — $90 for up to 2 people, $10 each additional person — Agenda • Register by mail • Register online
• September 19 — South Boston (details mid-July)

Timber Cruising for Woodland Owners
September 25, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Matthews State Forest, Galax — $50, includes lunch, Biltmore stick, and angle gauge — Agenda • Register by mail • Register online

Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours — 50th Anniversary! This October, help celebrate the longest-running program of its kind in Virginia. Tours run across 4 counties over 4 days, visiting private, public, and industry-owned lands and manufacturing facilities. Join for 1, 2, 3, or all 4 days; lodging available.

• October 20 — Montgomery
• October 21 — Franklin
• October 22 — Orange
• October 23 — Hanover

Registration opens mid-July — Register online.

Visit the Blue Ridge PRISM website for programs on nonnative invasives.

Partners & Sponsors

• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Virginia Department of Forestry
• Virginia Sustainable Forestry Initiative State Implementation Committee
• Virginia Tree Farm Foundation
• Virginia Forestry Association
• Forest Stewardship Program
• USDA Forest Service

Jennifer Gagnon • 228 Cheatham Hall • Blacksburg, VA 24061 • jgagnon@vt.edu • 540/231-6391

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.